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What’s happening in Berlin This Winter? Our Top Picks!

Celebrate the holidays in Berlin this winter with some fantastic events

Yes, Christmas markets are a given anywhere in Germany this winter, but there’s a lot of other exciting events happening over the chilly months. From classical music to psychedelic parties, check out our list below.

Christmas Garden Berlin

Inspired by London’s Christmas at Kew celebrations, Berlin’s taking their botanical garden for a festive spin and lighting it up for the holidays. With a 1.5km trail full of twinkling lights, fireside drinks and an ice rink to test your skating skills, it’s perfect for a quiet date night.

Nachtflohmarkt

Looking to pick up some gifts for the holiday season? Head over to Spreewerkstätten for Nachtflohmarkt’s travelling flea market, which will turn the three floor venue into a hub of handicrafts, culinary delights and live music. Located alongside the River Spree, it’s worth relaxing outside with a cup of gluhwein once your indoor shopping’s out the way.

6th Louis Lewandowski Festival

There’s a long history of beautiful Jewish synagogue music and the 6th Louis Lewandowski is out to celebrate some of its most influential Renaissance and Baroque pieces. Held over a weekend with choirs from Berlin, Johannesburg, Basel and Leipzig all taking part, tickets are available for individual acts. Learn more about German-Jewish culture with a visit to the architecturally beautiful Jewish Museum, opened in 2011, the zig-zag like building is dedicated to the history and lives of German Jews.

Dates: 15 – 18 December

Christmas Markets

No December in Berlin is complete without a visit to one of its sixty Christmas markets. With so many to choose from, we’ve narrowed it down to a few: around the corner from the Berliner Dom is the classic favourite and impossibly festive Weihnachtszauber, Handmade Design Weihnachtsmarkt’s hub of handmade gifts and craft beer as well as the alternative Japanischer Weihnachtsmarkt which combines the German tradition with Japanese culture.

Brandenburg Gate New Year’s Eve Party

This annual classic is back again and sees crowds of one million ring in the new year together, alongside incredible live performances, sprawling food tents and no shortage of merriment. Spanning over two kilometres, this impressive bash is free to enter and feature a spectacular countdown celebration complete with fireworks – three, two, one…

Planetarium, Alice Phoebe Lou

With Hollywood’s current fascination with the cosmos, Alice Phoebe Lou’s concert nights seem perfectly timed to make the most of the hype. Combining the South African musician’s melodies with the breathtaking galactic surroundings of the Zeis-Groẞplanetarium, the immersive performance will take you out of this world for an evening.

Hippie New Year

Escape the shambles of 2016 by making a beeline for 70s hippie culture at the Ritter Butzke. Combining groovy tunes with one of the best electronic line-ups this New Years, artists like andhim, Format:B, NICONÉ and a whole host of secret artists will be hitting the decks all night long. The fun doesn’t stop at the countdown – the party continues long into the evening of the 1st January if you can stay up that long.